alucard275 if you could edit your review to include a letter grade I would much appreciate it ^^

Also news from post-earthquake Japan: I'm in Ibaraki and we're doing all right. On our third day without water but got electricity back last night. There's minimal structural damage in my area (collapsed walls, breaking roofs) and the aftershocks are still coming, but they're much subdued. Please keep the families in Iwate, Fukushima, Miyagi etc in your thoughts. Things are kind of a mess right now.

alucard275Also news from post-earthquake Japan: I'm in Ibaraki and we're doing all right. On our third day without water but got electricity back last night. There's minimal structural damage in my area (collapsed walls, breaking roofs) and the aftershocks are still coming, but they're much subdued. Please keep the families in Iwate, Fukushima, Miyagi etc in your thoughts. Things are kind of a mess right now.

Name of Merchant: Cosplaywig Item: "Kuroshitsuji Alois Trancy wig"(but bought for a Canada cosplay, I just thought the wig itself looked okay.)Website/C.com gallery:http://stores.ebay.com/COSPLAY-WIGLinks to picture(s) of your commissioned item:http://www.cosplay.com/photo/2924824/Timeline: Bought wig on 3rd March, shipped on 8th March, arrived today(13th March). Pros: Very fast shipping, it arrived faster than I would be expecting! The wig looks nice, and feels soft. Cons: Well, though the page for it said it was of heat resistant fibers, the note that came with it said it was kanekalon - didn't really matter to me, but you might want to note this if buying from here. Wig also seems a bit frizzy in places, though probably nothing some brushing can't fix. The color also seemed a bit off, it looks slightly lighter and less "yellowish" than the picture(should maybe have got a darker, more yellow blonde when I think about it, but the rest of the wigs seemed a bit TOO dark). Other than that, it's good, and these are really just tiny flaws compared to the overall positive experience.Final Grade: A- Aside from some tiny things about the wig, it's still good and usable, and they have affordable prices and fast shipping. I'll definately consider them next time I buy a wig.

Name of Commissioner: cosplayhomeWebsite/C.com gallery: http://myworld.ebay.com/cosplayhome/...id=p4340.l2559Character commissioned and series/video game: Generic Japanese school uniform.Links to picture(s) of your commissioned item: http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/20...4e-d3bl3e4.jpg (really bad picture, sorry XD I took it in the morning)Timeline (how long your order took to process): Ordered on the 4th of March, shipped on the 7th of March, received on the 11th. So, I think a week?Pros: The quality is really great, the shipping was fast and it fits perfectly! Cons: No cons. Comments: I'll definitely order from this person again. Final Grade:: A+

(sorry if I posted this incorrectly, I'll be happy to edit it though!)

Character commissioned and series/video game (please include if this was the entire costume, just a jacket, prop, accessory, wig, etc.): Chie - Persona 4; Jacket and skirt

Links to picture(s) of your commissioned item

Timeline (how long your order took to process): End of January to Beginning of March

Describe your Experience. Pros, Cons, Comments.
Pros:
Delivered much faster than anticipated
Warned that it may take longer due to Chinese New Year
Quality is very nice and inside of jacket is lined, good choice of material, colors are accurate to game art, the finished product looks just like the picture on the site and everything fits.
Came with Chie's buttons for her jacket
Communication was good

Name of Commissioner: 2010fancygift (ebay)Website/C.com gallery:http://shop.ebay.com/2010fancygift/m.htmlCharacter commissioned and series/video game (please include if this was the entire costume, just a jacket, prop, accessory, wig, etc.) A sequined clutch to match a costume.Links to picture(s) of your commissioned item

Timeline (how long your order took to process) The shipping was pretty awful, I won the auction on 02/23/11 and it arrived on Monday 3/14/2011. I guess since my other one came in a week I expected this one to come fast too!

Describe your Experience. Their wasn't ANY communication, the auction mentioned the product was customizable, but it was already in the right color so I didn't ask for any changes.

Pros: The item looks just as pictured..Well, maybe slightly lighter in person, but that's a good thing! XD, It's really well sewn and the closure is metal, I can tell despite it looking pretty it will hold up to actually carrying things, which is pretty rare for purses like it, it's also larger then the measurements they listed! which is a big pro for me.

Cons: The lining is awful, it feels like shower curtain. Really, NO IDEA why they would use that, it's horrible. Their were several loose threads around the edges, the chain is really uncomfortable on my wrist >.< and I was never sent a tracking number.

Comments. They claim these are customizable, but honestly, they are very much factory made. You can just tell with the way they are sewn and the packaging they come in. Not really a problem, but I wouldn't trust their custom claims.

The lining REALLY bothers me, but I guess you can't be picky when you pay $6 for something. I would buy from them again in a heartbeat if I need anything else! Would be an A+ if it weren't for the lining being disgusting.

Timeline (how long your order took to process): I placed my order really early in September 2010, so that I'd be sure that my corset would be finished in time for Sakura-Con, with a February 2011 deadline. My corset was finished on by Feb. 26, and I received it in the mail by March 10.

Describe your Experience: From beginning to end there was lots of communiation between us. She contacted me for several different things, such as payment method, fabric type, additional image references, and checking in messages to let me know how my commission was coming along. Photos included.

Pros: it's homg gorgeous!! I can't get over how pretty her work is, like the pretty pink and purple sparkly detail in the front~ The corset has no loose threads or signs of damage. It fits very well to my measurements, and I love how it looks with my skirt~ Best of all, it's comfortable to wear. :'D She even sent me a spool of ribbon to use for lacing up my corset. This commissioner's skill as a seamstress and attention to the original design's details is definitely shown with this piece.

Cons: absolutely none~!

Comments: Silvana_Girl is a design student with lots of skill for a fair price. I paid $88 for my corset, for the corset style (overbust) plus labor and materials, and she was flexible with me to set up a payment system so that I wouldn't have to pay the entire cost right away. The photos I've taken of her work doesn't do it justice. I'm really glad I decided to contact her regarding her ad.

So, my cosplay budget has become a little tight and I found this website called fm-anime.com and although the side claims that the photos are their own and that the product you will recieve will look the same as the photo, I can't help but be warry of it!
...
So, has anyone bought anything from this site and how was your experience?

Timeline (how long your order took to process): I placed my order and gave her my measurements on March 1, 2010. At this time, she was running her shop out of eBay as mickey_haha, until she closed her page. FM-Anime was still a brand-new site, with limited items from her previous eBay listings.
I don't remember the exact date because it's been so long, but I had this item before May 22, because I wore it (after alterations) to Spokane Comicon on that date. I received it sometime between April 1 and May 1.

Describe your Experience: This was my first major cosplay purchase EVER, so she and I had a lot of email correspondence before I actually placed my order. She answered a lot of my questions and has very good customer service. I, however, did not order through the site iself, but through email contact, so I don't know how her current ordering system is.

Pros: The costume looks exactly like the picture, down to the fabric and construction. I really like the skirt best; it's poofy (which is exactly what it needs to be for this costume) and it has pretty lace detail. The fabrics used for the skirt and back bow have a nice sheen, and it doesn't look extremely satin-y.

Cons: The size was incorrect. HOWEVER, this was my error. Please keep in mind that this was my very first cosplay purchase, so I made mistakes.
I had been measured in inches, and then I converted them to centimeters myself. Big mistake. When the costume arrived, it was waaaaay too big for me. I ended up taking it to a local dress shop to have the top and skirt waist taken in.
The top wasn't very sturdy either, but I think it's because I ordered it too big and then tried to bring it down to my size.
The back bow doesn't have as much structure as it's pictured. I have had to modify it for the look I want to achieve. I may just replace it altogether this year.

Comments: I'd recommend FM-Anime as a costume vendor, because what you see is what you get. No stock photos here, at least based on my purchasing experience. I've since found a costume vendor whose work gives me bigger bang for my buck and looks very pretty, but I'd buy from FM-Anime again if the situation came. (I actually spotted a costume I really like while I was browsing her site for updated information~ )